No doubt, indecent dressing is rampant in the world today, courtesy of freedom to life and choice of taste. It is only worrisome when someone else celebration of freedom is constituting nuisance to the public. Indecent dressing has graduated from the beach and river shore displays. It is well seen in work areas like public Offices in today’s world.
Reports confirms that this situation has not only wrecked the work environment in recent times, but also lured many officers into immoral acts. It is in response to this that Uganda has ruled out any form of indecent dressing among public officers, frowning it and calling it off in a memo signed by Catherine Bitarakwate, the permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service.
According to the circular, Public officers must comply with the laid down regulations in order not to face disciplinary measures. The circular covers that Female public officers “should avoid wearing sleeves, transparent blouses and dresses at the work place [and] ensure that clothing covers up cleavage, navels, knees and back.
“Female officers will not be allowed to appear for duty in open flat shoes except on a doctor’s recommendation/medical grounds, wear bright coloured hair, in form of natural hair, braids and hair extensions.”
It is however stated that anyone who chooses to go with trousers may do so but should ensure it is in “form of smart lady suits with jackets, long enough to cover the bosom”.
Males were also cautioned to avoid open shoes and appear in business corporate wears (trousers, sleeves, jacket and tie). Ms Adah 
Muwanga, Director, Ministry of Human Resources stated that there was an urgent need to issue the regulation for the increasing complaints, in recent times, filed to the Ministry on issues relating to indecent dressing and public harassment.
“We got complaints that some public officers are indecent,” Adah Muwanga said. Adding that: “Some female officers are pumping up their breasts, wearing mini-skirts… You are sexually harassing the male counterparts and in Uganda this is not acceptable. We are mindful of the perception of the public to our officers. Do you feel okay when you have nails several meters long? It is not neat and healthy and we have to care about the health of public officers.”
Correspondent: Olayiwola A. Ridwan
